It is sad to know that
the last remnants of South African’s indigenous
flora are disappearing at an alarming rate. Urban development,
over-population, farming, plantations and other pressures
on the land account for more and more destruction of
the natural habitat of our birds, insects, reptiles
and mammals.

Many gardeners don’t know that their well kept
gardens full of exotics, where animals once lived, have
become green wastelands with very little life.

By planting some indigenous vegetation and attracting the animals
which live amongst it we can bring nature back to our gardens
and restore some natural ecology in our urban space. Hindu shrines
which are decorated with greenery signify the preservation of
Mother Earth.

On the other hand all
the exotics plants being grown in our gardens give the
impression that the majority or people are doing their
best to not care about conserving the earth but rather
doing their best to destroy the creators work. Many
of the South African species are cultivated and planted
all over the world.
A good example of these plants is Strelitzia reginae
and Agapanthus africanus which is cultivated for cut
flowers and planted in gardens worldwide.

South Africa has one of the most diverse floral kingdoms
in the world and there is a substitute with similar
shape and flowering for almost every exotic, you just
got to look for it.

So get down to it and discuss what plants you can plant to attract
your favoured birds, insects, reptiles or mammal. Let’s
start with my favoured the chameleon, one way to attract Chameleon’s
to your garden it to plant restios.

Restios are usually tuffed reedy looking plants, are ancient
precursors of true grasses, which they replace in areas where
the soil lacks nutrients and the majority of the annual rainfall
occurs in winter. While many species occur where drainage is
restricted and the ground is water logged, other favours dry
areas with little water availability. These plants are eye catching
because of there architectural form and often used in modern
style planting. Although pollinated by wind Restio’s are
popular with small insects and this in return attracts chameleons.

Birds are always a wonder full site in the garden and there
is a large variety of plants that you can plant to attract all
different types of species of birds. Let’s start with
the fruit eaters. Some species to plant to attract fruit eaters
are Apodytes dimidiata(Wild Pear), Celtis africana,(White Stinkwood)
Ocotea bullata(Stinkwood) Ficus species(Figs) and Harpephyllum
caffrum (Wild Plum) These fruiting trees will attract beautiful
birds such as the Knysna Loerie, Green pigeons, Trumpeter Hornbills
and Redfaced mousebirds.

Next let’s talk
about the nectar eaters which comprises of birds such
as Malachite Sunbirds, Cape Sugar Bird, Doublecollared
Sunbird and the Scarletchested Sunbird. These small
but beautiful birds are attracted by species such as
Aloe species, Burchellia bubalina (Wild Pomegranate),
Kniphofia species (Red Hot Pokers), Leonotus leonorus
(Wild Dagga), Melianthus species (Honey Flowers) and
Tecoma capensis(Cape Honey Suckle). We can also plant
species which attract insects for pollination which
in return attracts the insect eater birds such as the
African Hoopoe, African Pied wagtail, Little Bea Eater,
Cardinal Woodpecker and Fiscal Shrike

If you are young enough you are in for the magic of nature and
will see the fruits of your labour. However you are never too
old to start planting indigenous. Would you like future owners
of your garden to remember you as a far sighted legend who cared
for the earth or as one of the “eco-vandals” who
indirectly contributed to the extinction of so many of our own
species?